How about a closest to the win "contest"?

by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 31, 2008 12:26 PM EDT

Okay, I guess we can play this for pride and prescience.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Yeah, in the immortal words of Carl in Caddyshack, "There won't be any money in it, but on your deathbed you'll have true contentment", or something like that.

Guesses for wins in '08 for the Rays of Tampa? With the ad cash rolling in perhaps the management can toss up a little something for closest - you won't get anything from me. Or we can just play for what matters most after all - pride.

I'll get this party started with a low ball shot to get everybody riled up and participating. Hey, it's still a best ever!

75 wins.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

77 wins

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Mar 31, 2008 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

81

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2008 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

"Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness."

There you go

and my pick:

79 wins

Gabba Gabba Hey..but who gives a bibble...this guy!

"There's way too many ostriches. Why are there so many ostriches? The brochure said there would only be a few ostriches. This is a terrible vacation!"

by DevilRayRomano on Mar 31, 2008 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

Like mine better even if it's wrong.

I'll take the contentment over the consciousness, but a quote is a quote - I thought he said consciousness too. Let 'em sue!

by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 31, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait, we get ad cash?

I wish.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2008 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

76 Wins or Bust!

by ttnorm on Mar 31, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

85 Wins.

by P Brady on Mar 31, 2008 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

by bobr on Mar 31, 2008 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

Hey, Get your own number!!!

;-)

by ttnorm on Apr 1, 2008 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Ok. 117.

by bobr on Apr 1, 2008 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions

82 wins just barely over 500

by duckroy on Mar 31, 2008 9:02 PM EDT reply actions

84

by Tyler on Mar 31, 2008 10:06 PM EDT reply actions

88

PECOTA is smarter than all of you. For reals.

"I'm stupid and terrible at baseball"
-Jonny Gomes, (2005, 06, 07,08)

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Mar 31, 2008 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

by RATW on Mar 31, 2008 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

Finish the year out strong pushing for Wild Card

87 Wins

by JBrooks31 on Apr 1, 2008 12:37 AM EDT reply actions

I hope you're right, again

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 1, 2008 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

70 without Kaz, 84 with him

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 1, 2008 12:46 AM EDT reply actions

Wow

You think Kaz provides a 14 game swing? I think even the most valuable pitchers in major league history would be hard-pressed to live up to that standard. He only starts once every five days, and there are other factors at play when he does start. In addition, he isn't always going to produce a quality outing. I gotta disagree with your perception of his importance.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 1, 2008 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions

You have to take into account the presumed negative value of either Hammel or Jackson.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 1, 2008 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Fair point

But how long are we judging Kazmir to be out? There has got to be a lot of middle ground in between those two wins projections, since it is unlikely that he will miss the entire season, and obviously he won't be pitching for the full season either.

Even taking away Hammel or Jackson, which is a definite addition by subtraction gain on itself, a 14 win swing seems a bit much.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 1, 2008 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't agree with 14 wins, but I think over a season maybe 3/4.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 1, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't forget the residual effect

Shields against Halladay, Bedard, Beckett, I don't like as much as Shieldsy facing a #2. This goes on down the line. Kaz is our ace, Shields is better than most #2's, I think Garza is going to be inconsistent with his control, but should match up well with most #3's, Sonny is an above average 4 IMO, and Jackson is an enigma as he can strike out 7 and throw a 3 hitter over 6 or he can walk 4-5 give up some hits and get shelled. Definition of a #5 right there.

So yes, I think Kaz is worth 14 wins. It looks like he MIGHT only miss 2-3 starts which would give him 31-33 depending how it shakes out. After we stopped blowing so many of his leads last year it looked like he refocused. Our pen looks improved so far so the high pitch count games where he leaves in the 5th or 6th might be better protected. It is not unreasonable to see him winning 20 games this year if he gets that many starts with this lineup. How many would he have had last year if he could have gone an extra inning?

Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!

by Sandy Kazmir on Apr 1, 2008 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions